Steam heating apparatus



Filed July 23, 1964 INVENTOR AUSTIN F'- MCCORMACK JR.

BY MJM 555%@ ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,211,376 STEAM HEATINGAPPARATUS Austin F. McCormack, Jr., 1414 Bella Vista Drive, Dallas, Tex.Filed July 23, 1964, Ser. No. 384,628 Claims. (Cl. 237-68) Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of my prior U.S. applicationSerial No. 181,115, led March 20, 1962, now U. S. Patent No. 3,147,920and relates to steam heatying system apparatus and, more particularly,to such apparatus employing a plurality of deaerating steam traps forremoving non-condensible gases from steam condensate. As is pointed outin my prior application, steam traps are conventionally used in steamheating systems and are automatically operated to trap or retain steamin the heating apparatus yor piping system until its latent heat hasbeen dissipated and then to permit the condensate from the steam toaccumulate for discharge to the return line of the heating system. Aparticular disadvantage to such a system is the continuous expense ofreplacing piping because of corrosion. This corrosion is principallycaused by the presence of carbon dioxide in the condensate as well asoxygen and other non-condensible gases. The continuous forming ofcorrosion results in a corresponding continuing decrease in the overalleiciency of the heating system.

It is recognized from my prior application that the noncondensible gasesare lighter than the steam vapor and will collect at the top of thecondensing column whence they are thermostatically vented to theatmosphere. It has been further discovered that the percentage of thenon-condensible gases freed from the condensate is a function of theamount of steam flashed in the steam trap.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to control theamount of steam flashed in a deaerating steam trap.

Another object of the present invention is to minimize the amount ofsteam flashed in a deaerating steam trap.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a deaerating steamtrap with an orifice of predetermined size at the trap outlet.

The present invention has another object in that steam heating apparatusis provided with a plurality of deaerating steam traps which vent to asingle condenser unit.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a singlecondenser unit for a plurality of deaerating steam traps in a heatingsystem.

A further object of the present invention is to obtain useful heat fromthe single condenser unit connected to a plurality of deaerating steamtraps in a heating system.

In practicing the present invention, a steam trap having inlet andoutlet means separated by a liquid collecting chamber is provided withvalve means for releasing the collected liquid from the chamber in theform of iiashed steam, means disposed upstream of the outlet meansincluding separation chamber means for separating corrosive gases fromcondensate released by the valve means and including vent means for theseparated gases, and means controlling the amount of flashed steamwhereby a maximum percentage of the corrosive gases is separated. Inaddition, a plurality of such steam traps in a steam heating system areprovided with a single condenser means connected to each separationchamber whereby the separated gases are combined for venting to theatmosphere. Other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following description of a preferred embodimenttaken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a Vertical section view of a steam trap ice and itsassociated elements embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic arrangement of a plurality of the steam traps ofFIGURE 1 combined into a steam heating system; and

FIGURE 3 is a cross section of a detail of FIGURE 1.

As is illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawing, the steam trap comprises agenerally hollow body 10 having an inlet 12 with an orifice plug 13 anda pair of outlets 14 and 16 with outlet 16 including an orifice plug 17.The interior of the body 10 forms a condensate collection chamber 18that is separated by a partition wall 20, the lower portion of which isprovided with a removable filter plug unit 22 so positioned as to iilterthe flow from the inlet 12 to the chamber 18.

The condensate collection chamber collects condensed moisture from thesteam entering the inlet 12 and such condensate supports a bucket 24 ina buoyant manner. A valve plate 26 is integrated to the bottom of thebucket 24 as by a plurality of mounting studs and nuts 28 (only onebeing shown). The upper end of each mounting stud 28 is pivoted to astrap 30 fixed to the valve plate 26 which is thus assured of alignedseating even through the bucket 24 may be slightly tilted due to thebuoyant forces.

The upper part of chamber 18 is defined by a partition wall 32 centrallyformed with a downwardly extending hollow tubular member 34, the loweredge of which forms a valve seat 36 for the valve plate 26. The topsurface of partition wall 32 and the opposite interior surfaces of thebody 10 define a condensate outlet chamber 38 which communicates withthe outlets 14 and 16.

A valve stem 48 has its lower end adjustably threaded through the valveplate 26 as is apparent from the crosssection seen through therectangular opening in the strap 30. The valve stem 40 is disposed inthe tube 34 and has a conical valve member 42 xed on its upper end. Thevalve 42 cooperates with an orifice fitting 44 threaded into thepartition 32 so as to be in axial alignment with the outlet 14. Thevalve plate 26 and the valve 42 are simultaneously moved in response tothe rise and fall of the bucket 24 whose vertical movement is stabilizedabout its central axis by means of a plurality of stabilizing pins 46(only one being shown) which are adjustably threaded into theundersurface of partition 32. Each pin 46 extends into the bucket 24 soas to be slightly spaced from the interior of the bucket 24.

In addition to communicating with the collection chamber 18, the steamand condensate inlet 12 also communicate with the condensate outletchamber 38 by means of a bypass orifice 48 which is controlled by abellows type valve 50. A mounting plug 52 carries the bellows valve 50in axial alignment with the orice 48 and in such a location as to beresponsive to steam entering the inlet 12. The orifice 48 and valve 50constitute an air bypass to condensate outlet chamber 38, which isthermostatically controlled. The valve 50 is expanded to a closedposition in response to the inlet temperature of the steam; conversely areduction of the inlet temperature causes contraction of the bellowsvalve 50 and permits air to pass directly to the condensate outletchamber 38.

A vertically disposed conduit, forming a separation chamber 54, has oneend connected to the outlet 14 and an opposite end connected to -acapillary coil 56 made of any `suitable thin walled tube such as coppertubing. The capillary coil 56 forms a condenser coil that cornmunicateswith a thermostatic release Valve 58 which is automatically operated ata predetermined temperature to expel non-condensible gases to theatmosphere. In this particular installation, the thermostatic releasevalve 58 includes a bellows type valve member 60 that is normally closedon a valve seat 62 and is moved away from such seat upon contraction inresponse to a predetermined temperature.

The present invention is particularly adaptable for use in a steamheating system and, in such operation, the inlet 12 is connected to asteam condensate connection and the outlet 16 is connected to the returnline of the system. The steam trap performs the basic function ofpreventing the steam from passing through the trap itself Whilepermitting the collected condensate to be dumped into the return line.This collected condensate includes such non-condensible gases as oxygen,carbon dioxide and nitrogen; the oxygen and carbon dioxide are basiccauses of return line corrosion in steam heating systems but suchcorrosive elements are eliminated as will become more apparent in thefollowing description of the sequence of operation.

In operation, the condensate will collect in the chamber 18 from whichit spills over into the bucket 24. As the bucket 24 begins to iill withcondensate, its buoyancy is overcome and the bucket 24 begins to sink.The downward movement of the bucket 24 simultaneously moves valve plate26 away from valve seat 36 and conical valve 42 away from orifice seat44. The condensate in the bucket 24 is then forced by the steam pressureacting on its surface to rush up through the hollow tube 34 and isdischarged through the oriiice iitting 44.` The valve member 42 andvalve seat 44 constitute a variable orifice or atomizing valve whichincreases the velocity and decreases the pressure of the dischargedcondensate. Because of the axial alignment of the outlet 14 with theorice 44, the discharged condensate is projected into the conduitchamber 54 and because of the atomizing operation, the condensate isdischarged with its non-condensible gases commencing to separate fromthe condensate. The high velocity of this sprayed discharge into theseparation chamber 54 accomplishes the separation of the noncondensiblegases and the condensate. The condenser coil 56 collects thenon-condensible gases which are intermittently expelled to theatmosphere by the automatic thermostatic valve 58 whenever thetemperature reaches a predetermined point. The condensate falls backdown the conduit chamber S4 to the condensate outlet chamber 38 whenceit is delivered to the condensate outlet 16 in a condition subtsantiallyfree of non-condensible gases so that the return piping of the heatingsystem is not subjected to any corrosive action by the condensate.

It is known that condensate at a high pressure and temperature willflash into steam as a result of a pressure drop. The decrease inpressure as the condensate passes through the variable orifice 44 maycause flashing depending upon the temperature of the condensate and thesteam `pressure acting on the surface of the condensate in the bucket.Inasmuch as carbon dioxide is freely separated from iiashed steam bycondensing out the steam, ,the present invention has the additionaladvantage of recovering the condensed steam that would normally bevented to the atmosphere. The tiashed steam is discharged into theconduit chamber 54 and is condensed as condensate by the cooling coil56; such condensate is recoverable by falling back down the conduitchamber 54 to the condensate outlet chamber 38. The top of the coil S6collects the non-condensible gases, e.g. carbon dioxide, from the ashedsteam and cools them for release to the atmosphere by the thermostaticvalve 58.

In order to separate the non-condensible -gases from the tiashed steamvapor, it is necessary to maintain the amount of steam flashed to aminimum. The amount of steam flashed is controlled by specificallyselecting the size of the outlet oritice plug 17 `for the exactoperating conditions such as the pressure of the heating system, thepressure drop through the inlet orice Iplug 13 and the temperature ofthe condensate. It is to be understood that the oriiice plugs 13 and 17may be adjustable to diferent sizes for the particular requirements ofthe steam trap.

Such adjustability may be accomplished by selection from differentlysized orifice plug or by utilizing an orifice plug that has aselectively variable restricltor. While any suitable type of selectivelyvariable orifice plug may be utilized, one example is shown in FIGURE 3as including an adjustable needle valve 17a.

In the above arrangement, the inlet orifice plug 13 is specificallyselected for a particular steam condensate ow and a particular pressuredrop. For example, the inlet `orifice plug may be selected to pass 280lbs/hr. of condensate at 25 p.s.i.g. with a pressure drop of 5 p.s.i.The amount of pressure reduction required to provide suliicient ashingand velocity to the condensate is in the range of from 2-5 .p.s.i.;additional pressure reduction would only be required to get below thesaturation temperature. For example, if the steam pressure was 25p.s.i.g. but the temperature of the condensate entering the trap wasconsistently 250 F., the pressure would have to be reduced at least to15 p.s.i.g. to reach the boiling condition and an additional 2-5 p.s.i.pressure drop would be required for the steam to flash. It is now ap-Iparent, that the amount of steam flashed may be kept to a minimum bycontrolling the pressure drop at the outlet orifice 17. Continuing theabove example, the outlet orifice 17 is adjusted .to pass 280 lbs./hr.at an allowable pressure drop of 3 p.s.i.g.

Turning now to FIGURE 2, there is shown a schematic diagram of steamheating system apparatus wherein a plurality of steam traps areconnected to a single condenser unit. The same reference numerals havebeen used in FIGURE 2 to designate the same elements already describedin FIGURE l, and new reference numerals have been used for theadditional elements. For instance, each of the steam traps 10 has itsinlet 12 connected to a steam condensate connection and its outlet 16connected to the condensate return line 102 of the steam heating system.Each of the conduits forming the separation chambers 54 has one endconnected to the outlet 14 of the steam trap 10 as described in FIGURE1, but the opposite ends of the chambers 54 are connected to a singlecondenser unit indicated generally at 104. The condenser unit 104includes a plurality of finned conduits 106 extending between an upperexpelling chamber 108 and a lower condensate chamber a plurality ofthermostatic release valves 58 (as described in detail in FIGURE 1)communicates with the expelling chamber 108 and a return pipe 112communicates with the collection chamber 110. A condensate return .trap114, of any conventional structure, is located in the return .pipe 112to deliver condensate therefrom to the condensate return line 102. Acirculating fan 116 is disposed adjacent the condenser unit 104 todirect a ow of air onto the finned conduits 106 and thus reduce thenumber of cooling iins needed for each conduit.

In operation of the steam heating system apparatus shown in FIGURE 2,each steam trap 10 operates independently (as described in connectionwith FIGURE l), up to the point where the sprayed discharge into theseparation chamber 54 accomplishes the separation of the nonacondensiblegases and the condensate. The finned conduits 106 collects thenon-condensible gases for delivery to the upper expelling chamber 108whence they are intermittently expelled to the atmosphere by theautomatic thermostatic valves 58. The separated condensate falls downinto the lower condensate chamber 110 whence it is delivered in acondition substantially free of noncondensible gases to the return pipe112 and is subsequently returned by the steam trap 114 to the condensatereturn line 102 whereby the heating system apparatus is not subjected toany corrosive action by the returning condensate.

It is to be understood that each of steam traps 10 are located adjacenta heating element such as a radiator. The entire etiiciency of theheating system apparatus is greatly increased by the use of the unitarycondenser unit 104. Furthermore, the condenser unit 104 may be itself'.`utilized as a heating element in furnishing extra heat to the space inwhich it is located.

Inasmuch as the preferred embodiment of the present invention is subjectto many variations, modifications and changes in structural details, itis intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description orillustrauted on the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In steam heating apparatus, the combination comprising a steam trapdevice having an inlet and an outlet and a condensate collection chambertherebetween, atomizing valve means for discharging collected condensatefrom said chamber at a high velocity in the form of a spray, anadditional outlet means disposed upstream of said outlet to receive thedischarged spray, gas separation means including condenser means and aseparation chamber communicating with said additional outlet means forseparating gases from the discharged spray and leaving purifiedcondensate, means to expel the separated gases from said condensermeans, means to collect the purified condensate, and means controllingthe amount of steam ashed with the discharged spray.

2. The combination as recited in claim 1 wherein said last mentionedmeans comprises preselected pressure drop means disposed at said outlet.

3. The combination as recited in claim 2 wherein said pressure dropmeans comprises adjustable orilice means in said outlet.

4. In steam heating apparatus having a steam condensate connection and acondensate return line, the combination comprising plural steam trapmeans connected between said condensate connection and said return line,a condensate collection chamber in each steam trap means, valve meansfor releasing collected condensate from said chamber in the form of adischarged spray, separation means receiving the discharged spray toseparate the same into non-condensible gases and puried condensate,condenser means to collect the non-condensible gases, means 5. Thecombination as recited in claim 4, wherein said condenser meanscomprises a condenser unit having a plurality of finned conduits forcollecting the non-condensible gases whereby said condenser unit acts asa heating element.

6. In steam heating apparatus, the combination cornprising a pluralityof steam condensate traps, each of said traps having an inlet and anoutlet and a condensate collection chamber therebetween, additionaloutlet means for each trap disposed upstream of said outlet, valve meansfor each trap adapted to release collected condensate from said chamberto said additional outlet means, separation chamber means for eachadditional outlet means, unitary condenser means communicating with saidseparation chamber means to receive non-condensib1e gases and purifiedcondensate therefrom, means to expel non-condensible gases from saidunitary condenser means, means to collect the purified condensate fromsaid unitary condenser means, and heat dissipating means on said unitarycondenser means whereby said unitary condenser means acts as a heatingelement.

7. The combination as recited in claim 6 wherein said heat dissipatingmeans comprises a plurality of finned conducts and wherein circulatingfan means is disposed adja cent said finned conduits.

8. The combination as recited in claim 7 wherein each of said steamcondensate traps is provided with means controlling the amount of steamashed during release of the collected condensate by said valve means.

9. The combination as recited in claim 8 wherein said controlling meanscomprises preselected pressure drop means disposed at said outlet.

10. The combination as recited in claim 9 wherein said pressure dropmeans includes adjustable orifice means in said outlet to reduce theamount of steam fiashed to a minimum.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,114,609 10/14Hatch 236-53 1,191,342 7/16 Pendleton 137--190 EDWARD I. MICHAEL,Primary Examiner.

1. IN STEAM HEATING APPARATUS, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A STEAM TRAPDEVICE HAVING AN INLET AND AN OUTLET AND A CONDENSATE COLLECTION CHAMBERTHEREBETWEEN, ATOMIZING VALVE MEANS FOR DISCHARGING COLLECTED CONDENSATEFROM SAID CHAMBER AT A HIGH VELOCITY IN THE FORM OF A SPRAY, ANADDITIONAL OUTLET MEANS DISPOSED UPSTREAM OF SAID OUTLET TO RECEIVE THEDISCHARGED SPRAY, AS SEPARATION MEANS INCLUDING CONDENSER MEANS AND ASEPARATION CHAMBER COMMUNICATING WITH SAID ADDITIONAL OUTLET MEANS FORSEPARATING GASES FROM THE DISCHARGED SPRAY AND LEAVING PURIFIEDCONDENSATE, MEANS TO EXPEL THE SEPARATED GASES FROM SAID CONDENSERMEANS, MEANS TO COLLECT THE PURIFIED